Abortion, Moderation

July 19, 1989

It's probably safe to say that most people have less-than-firm views about abortion. Except for the zealots on both sides, abortion is an issue that involves shades of right and wrong, difficult choices that most would rather not have to make.

In his debate with Doug Wilder over the weekend, Republican gubernatorial candidate Marshall Coleman blinked when he was forced to look the abortion issue in the eye. Coleman has said abortions should be permitted only when the life of the mother is in danger. He has supported a "pro-life" amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

But on Saturday, he showed he could do the backstroke when Wilder, the Democratic nominee, pressed him on whether a victim of incest or rape should be allowed to have an abortion. Coleman said that as governor he would not propose legislation to prohibit abortion in those circumstances.

It would be easy to pound Coleman for changing his position on abortion now that the Supreme Court has made it clear that the issue will be one for state legislatures and governors to resolve, but we hesitate to do that because that's exactly what we want Coleman to do: change his position to one that is more flexible than the staunch opposition he has shown in the past.

There will always be people who oppose abortion totally and without exception. There will always be those who say the choice should belong to the woman, with no government intervention, ever. The vast majority of Americans hold positions somewhere between those two extremes, and their opinions are likely to shift as their personal circumstances change.

Coleman, in backing away from his anti-abortion position, is bringing his politics - if not his personal views - more into line with mainstream Virginians. It would be nice if he were to do the same regarding gun control.

Unfortunately for Coleman, the same voters who find his new-found moderation satisfying have to wonder whether it will last past Election Day. Wilder has also been criticized for waffling on the abortion issue, but Coleman's switch goes a long mile past waffling.

It would be a mistake for Virginians to allow the gubernatorial race to be decided by one emotional issue - abortion. The state has many other concerns that will require the leadership of a strong governor, and having the "appropriate" view on abortion - whatever that may be - doesn't necessarily make a person the best qualified to deal with other matters.

But the last thing either candidate can afford is to lose votes not because of their views on abortion, but because voters believe those views aren't sincerely held and won't last beyond Election Day.